Meanwhile, Poquoson's Bryce Snyder came from behind to reach this morning's boys title match.

James won the latest installment of a seesaw rivalry between good friends who are two of the best sophomore players in Virginia at any level.

Hunter has won more often in Mid-Atlantic Section play, but in high school competition James has advantages of 2-1 this year and 4-3 overall.

A mere four days after losing 6-2, 6-0 to Hunter in the Bay Rivers District final, James won a match with higher stakes -- since only one player per region can compete in the state AA semifinals.

The boys state tourney is at Virginia Tech, while the girls tourney is based at Salem High near Roanoke.

"In the first set, it was closer than 6-1," James said.

"The key was definitely consistency. She's real quick and you just have to wait for her to miss, if she does. Megan made more errors than she did last time, and that helped me."

James seemed to have the match sealed while serving with a 5-3, 40-love lead in the second set, but Hunter saved five match points to win that game and eventually forced a tiebreak. James' steadier groundstrokes were the ultimate difference.

The road to state has another obstacle for James, though. Today at about 10:15, she plays the final against the Battlefield District champion, Massaponax sophomore Heather Reynolds, whom she beat in a regional semifinal last year before losing to Hunter.

Snyder, an East Carolina University-bound senior, rallied past Chancellor's Matt Morgan 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 to earn a spot in the final opposite York freshman Peter Szewczyk.

Snyder struggled at first before taking a 5-2 lead in the second set. Morgan cut that deficit to 5-4, but Snyder broke him to win that set and dominated the third.

Snyder, third at state last season, plays Szewczyk today at about 10:15 a.m. for a return trip. It's a rematch of the district final, which Snyder won 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 five days ago.

In doubles, all five of the Bay Rivers entries advanced to today's 8 a.m. semis.

Both Bay Rivers boys doubles teams are from York.

District runners-up Szewczyk and Jeremy Lam saved two match points to outlast Chancellor's Morgan and Brian Harris 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to join the winners' circle alongside Falcon teammates David Ancarrow and Brian Dowis, who had a far easier draw.

In girls doubles, one team each from Jamestown (James and Molly Iracane), Poquoson (Hunter and Emily Swortzel) and Lafayette (Ashley Reyher and Jessica Farr) reached the semis. Reyher and Farr overcame Reynolds and Kelly Romaine 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Sonny Dearth can be reached at 247-4640 or via e-mail at sdearth@ dailypress.com